Dreaming Bob 133 



and-tumble ever since, and now I've drifted 

 back. It's all changed but just round there, 

 and folks ain't yet grudged me my shanty." 



" Do you live alone ?" I asked. 



" Say, please, young man, don't question 

 too close. Do I live alone ? ' Alone :' 

 that's a word that means too much for me. 

 I don't like to hear it. Yes, I live by my- 

 self," said the old man, in a voice quite dif- 

 ferent from his brief words when on the 

 meadow. 



Before I could find anything to say, he 

 continued, " I drifted back to these parts, 

 and there's just one thing I want to do 'fore 

 I slip up " 



" Slip up ?" I repeated after him, in a way 

 that showed I had not caught his meaning. 



" Slip up, yes ; die, I mean," he said, 

 somewhat impatiently. 



" Oh !" I exclaimed, adding, " Go on : 

 I won't interrupt again." 



" Daddy hid what he had somewhere in 

 the woods, and never let on to me, 'cause I 

 was too small, and just after mammy died he 

 slipped up, a tree he was a-cuttin* fallin* on 

 him. Bein' alone, some folks took me, and 

 I kind o' lost all notion of what went on 



